Senate committee hears bill to lower seal-of-financial-literacy GPA and expand instruction to K–2

Senate Committee on Education Chair Angie Taylor on Wednesday heard testimony on Senate Bill 229, a bill sponsored by Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop that would expand the state's financial-literacy program and change requirements for the state seal of financial literacy.

The bill would add kindergarten through second grade to the existing K'12 requirement for financial-literacy instruction and would lower the GPA threshold for a diploma bearing the state seal of financial literacy to 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The measure also revises how students may demonstrate proficiency for the seal: among the options in the bill are earning three credits in relevant career-and-technical-education courses, a B or higher in a college-level/dual-credit course in a related subject, scoring at least 85% on a department-provided financial-literacy assessment, or completing an objective exam or project tied to financial literacy.

The bill sponsor, Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop, said Nevada has a bipartisan history of promoting financial literacy and that the changes would "ensure more students will benefit from the instruction." She framed earlier legislative actions going back to 2009 and 2017 that created and expanded financial-literacy instruction and the state advisory council that developed the state seal and supporting resources.

Former Nevada Youth Legislator Evan Gong and Michelle Wheatfield, principal of Faye Heron Elementary School and member of the State Financial Literacy Advisory Council, testified in support. Gong described watching peers struggle with postgraduation financial decisions and said, "financial literacy empowers people no matter their age, education level, or choice of career." Wheatfield, who said she has children who started financial-literacy lessons in kindergarten, told the committee the advisory council has compiled vetted curricula and a website of resources for teachers and families.

Officials from the Nevada Department of Education told the committee that financial-literacy instruction already exists across grades 3'12 and that the department has an assessment teachers can use; the bill would formally extend instruction into early elementary grades. Amanda Hughes of the Department of Education said the department currently does not centrally track how many seals each school issues and that local schools record and award the seal themselves.

Committee members asked how instruction would be scheduled and how quality would be ensured. Hughes and Wheatfield said financial literacy is currently embedded in social studies at the elementary level and that the department is working to provide professional development to help teachers integrate financial-literacy lessons across math and social studies.

Business and nonprofit representatives — including Trevor Parrish of the Las Vegas Chamber, the Nevada Credit Union League, and the Nevada Banker Association — testified in support, saying earlier exposure and easier access to the state seal would strengthen the future workforce.

No committee vote was recorded at the hearing; the hearing was opened for public comment and then closed.

Supporters said the bill expands access and builds a longer pathway so students encounter financial concepts earlier; department staff warned that local implementation practices vary and that tracking of seal issuance is done by districts and schools. Several senators asked for clarification on assessment options, including why the ACT-related option was removed (the department said the ACT did not specifically address financial-literacy content) and asked how the 85% assessment threshold would be administered.

If enacted as written, school districts and charter schools would continue to choose from approved, vetted curricula but would also be required to provide professional development to teachers in the subject areas in which financial literacy is taught.

The hearing record includes written and oral support from business groups, school leaders, and parents. The committee closed the hearing without a recorded committee vote.

Sources: Hearing testimony before the Nevada Senate Committee on Education; Nevada Department of Education statements at the hearing.